عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰٓ 15
Translations
Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e., Paradise] -
Transliteration
'Indaha jannatu al-ma'wa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the Garden of Refuge (Paradise) that exists near the Lote Tree of the Furthest Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntaha), which marks the limit of the angels' knowledge and the boundary of creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as describing the proximity of Paradise to this divine station, emphasizing the majesty and proximity of Allah's reward to the furthest reaches of the heavens. The phrase signifies that at this exalted location, Paradise itself—the ultimate abode of peace and security—is present, underscoring the incomparable honor and closeness to Allah's throne.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Najm's description of the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) night journey and vision of divine signs. The surah establishes the truthfulness of the Prophet's testimony and his proximity to Allah through this miraculous journey, with this ayah emphasizing the spiritual reality of Paradise as part of the unseen realm that the Prophet witnessed.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3209): The Prophet (ﷺ) described his night journey and mentioned the Sidrat al-Muntaha, where he saw Paradise. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the descriptions of Paradise and its proximity to Allah's throne.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the reality and nearness of Paradise as a genuine reward prepared by Allah, encouraging piety and righteous deeds in pursuit of this ultimate abode of peace, while humbling us with knowledge of realms beyond our perception that only the Prophet (ﷺ) was granted to witness.